Poor broadband provision is damaging the Welsh economy and deterring much-needed investment in rural Wales, a cross-party group of MPs will warn today.

Some of the UK's lowest broadband speeds have been recorded in parts of Wales

Poor broadband provision is damaging the Welsh economy and deterring much-needed investment in rural Wales, a cross-party group of MPs will warn today.

The Welsh Affairs committee will call on the governments in London and Cardiff to work together to deliver high-quality internet access Wales, while ensuring the roll-out of super-fast services is not at the expense of households and businesses that still lack any broadband.

But despite the urgent need for improved broadband links for much of the country, the true picture shows the connectivity gulf between Wales and England is continuing to grow.

The MPs state: “The first priority must be to ensure that the needs of the approximately 90,000 homes in Wales which currently do not have access to broadband are addressed as soon as possible.”

They are concerned that the gap in broadband provision between Wales and the UK “has widened again” and demand that the next-generation 4G mobile technology must be available to 98% of people in Wales.

The MPs found evidence that satellite broadband was the “best solution “ to put people in the most remote of Wales online “very persuasive” and calls on communications regulator Ofcom to investigate the potential.

Cardiff has won UK Government funding to develop broadband infrastructure with speeds of up to 100 mbps. The committee calls on the Wales Office to now “prioritise support for Swansea’s bid for ‘super connected’ status.

Swansea West Labour MP Geraint Davies, a member of the committee, said: “With rail electrification and broadband followed by super-connectivity Swansea Bay City, with its beautiful location, is on track to become an increasingly attractive business location that, thanks to our football success, people have heard of worldwide.”

Conservative committee chairman and Monmouth MP David Davies said: “It is hard to believe, but in mid-2012 there are still some areas of Wales where people have no connection at all. It is impossible to see how businesses or the economy can develop in these areas.

“Both Governments have extremely ambitious targets for broadband provision and there is little time left to meet them. Wales must continue to receive the funding and political leadership to ensure that broadband provision is at the very least in line with the rest of the UK, and that the remaining ‘slowspots’ and ‘notspots’ in Wales are eradicated as a matter of urgency.”

“Both Governments must consider all possible ways of achieving this quickly.”

The committee want Ofcom to open up access to infrastructure in Wales and call for “BT’s market power” to be “regulated effectively”.

In July, First Minister Carwyn Jones announced a deal with BT so 96% of homes and businesses in Wales will be able to access a fibre-based broadband by the end of 2015.

A Wales Office spokeswoman said: “The issue of broadband coverage in Wales is well known and one that we are seeking to address in collaboration with the Welsh Government.

“Last summer this Government committed £56.9m to providing super-fast broadband in Wales and we were pleased to see that this will be delivered by the end of 2015.

“The £425m investment is testament to how Wales’ two Governments can work together, with £205m of the costs coming from the UK and Welsh Governments and EU structural funds, and the rest from BT who are carrying out the work.

“We have also committed to improving mobile phone coverage in Wales, with the recent Budget allocating £150m across the UK, which will include the black spot on A470(T) between Llandudno and Cardiff.”

Elinor Williams, Ofcom’s Director in Wales said: “As the UK enters a new generation of mobile communications, Ofcom’s objective is to promote effective competition and to stimulate both investment and innovation – helping to serve many areas of the UK that have traditionally been under-served. Assessing the evolving availability of communications services in the nations of the UK is an Ofcom priority and we always aim to serve the interests of Welsh citizens and consumers in everything we do.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We cannot comment on a report that we have not received and had an opportunity to study in detail.”

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